Livingston boss believes club deserve huge credit for closing in on 'historic' achievement

Livingston boss David Martindale says his ‘historic’ players deserve to be hailed despite a poor run of form seeing them slip out of the top six.

The Lions head to Fir Park on Saturday having fallen to seventh place after last weekend’s 3-0 away loss to St Mirren.

While the gaffer admits their performance levels since the turn of the year have been inconsistent he heaped praise on the squad as they look all but certain to secure a sixth consecutive season of Premiership football for the first time in the club’s history.

The Tony Macaroni Arena outfit may well have been harbouring thoughts of a European adventure earlier in the campaign but the primary aim has been achieved, says Martindale, as they sit 15 points clear of 11th placed Ross County with just eight games remaining.

Speaking to the Courier, Martindale said: “We have to be a wee bit realistic. We’ve achieved the first objective which is that we’re in the Premiership next season.

“That’s the first time ever that Livingston have been in the top flight of Scottish football for six straight seasons so I think the players and staff deserve a lot of praise for that.

“Obviously the second objective is to get into the top six. It’s somewhat out of our hands just now but we still have a reasonable chance to get there. If we don’t, it won’t be through a lack of application or effort from anyone at the football club.”

He added: “We’re disappointed in where we find ourselves right now and I would say our performances haven’t been consistent since maybe the turn of the year.

“But I think everyone needs to be a wee bit pragmatic. We’ve achieved another season in the Premiership which has broken a club record. The players and staff have helped create a historic achievement.